【24节气英语说】清明 Clear and Bright

The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Clear and Bright, the 5th solar term, starts this year on April 4 and ends on April 18.

中国传统农历将一年分为24个节气。清明是第五个节气，今年始于4月4日，止于4月18日。

Of all the 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day. The words "clear" and "bright" describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it a crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring.在24节气中，清明是唯一一个以中国传统节日—清明节为起始的节气。“清”和“明”这两个词很好的形容了这段时期的天气状况。气温开始上升，降雨量增加，是春天耕地和播种的关键时期。

Here are 6 things you may not know about Clear and Bright

Worshiping Ancestors 祭拜祖先

Clear and Bright is a period in which Chinese people honor nature and the ancestors of the Chinese nation. Cleaning the tombs and paying respect to the dead with offerings are the two important practices to remember late relatives.清明是中国人祭祀大自然和中华民族祖先的日子。扫墓和祭奠死者是纪念已故亲人的两个重要习俗。

Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care for the dead. The dead person's favorite food, wine and chopsticks are offered on their tombs, along with paper money. These sacrifices are all burned in the hope that the deceased will not lack food and money in the afterlife.清除坟墓周围的杂草，让新鲜的土壤来陪伴逝者。将逝者生前喜欢的食物、酒、筷子和纸钱放在坟墓上。焚烧祭品，是希望逝者在死后不会缺少食物和金钱。

Willow Branches 插柳

Legend has it that Clear and Bright is one of three periods during the year in which ghosts come closest to the world of living men. Buddhists believe that willow branches will drive away unwelcome ghosts and evil spirits.传说，清明是鬼魂最接近活人的三个时期之一。佛教徒相信柳条可以驱走这些不受欢迎的鬼魂和邪灵。

One proverb states that if a young lady does not wear a willow branch during the Clear and Bright period, she will soon turn old. Another says: "If one does not wear a willow, he will become a yellow dog after he dies and is reincarnated."

有句谚语说，如果年轻女子在清明不戴柳枝，她很快就会变老。还有人说:“不戴柳，死后变成黄狗，转世。”

Spring Outings 春游

Not only is it a period for commemorating the dead, it is also time for people to go out and enjoy nature. As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature. 清明不仅是一个纪念逝者的日子，也是人们走出家门，享受大自然的好机会。随着树木变绿，花朵绽放，阳光灿烂，万物复苏。也迎来了欣赏自然美景的好时节。

Flying Kites 放风筝

Flying kites is an activity favored by many Chinese during Tomb-Sweeping Day. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be chased away by doing this.放风筝是许多中国人在清明节喜爱的活动。而在清明这天放风筝的特别之处在于，人们会在风筝在空中的时候剪断风筝线，让它自由飞翔。据说这样可以带来好运，疾病可以通过这样被赶走。

Cold Food Festival 寒食节

The Cold Food Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated for one day before Tomb-Sweeping Day. On that day, making fire is taboo and only cold food is available.寒食节是中国传统节日之一，在清明节的前一天。在那一天，生火是禁忌，只能吃冷食。

Feasting on Qingtuan 吃青团

In the lower reaches of the Yangtze River region, qing’tuan or green cake is very popular snack on Tomb-Sweeping Day. 在长江下游地区，青团是清明节很受欢迎的小吃。

Qingtuan is a kind of round green cake. Pretty and delicate, Qingtuan have a mellow taste and special flavor. To make the cakes, people mash barnyard grass to squeeze juice from it and mix the flour and juice to a paste. Then they inject black bean filling into the paste and steam them. 青团是一种绿色圆形糕点，它色泽秀美，口感醇厚而且风味独特。人们把艾草捣成泥，挤出汁液，把面粉和汁液混合成糊状，之后将豆馅包裹在里面蒸熟。